Traction-wheel drive.



J. B. DUMAIS. TRAGIION WHEEL DRIVE.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1908.

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UNITED sTaTns PATENT orrion.

JEAN BJDUMAIS, OF CHICAGO, I LLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-'HALF TO FRANK R. CRANE, OF

' CHICAGO, lLLINOIS.

TnaoT'IoN-WHEEL DRIVE.

Specicaton of Letters. Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Application'filed May S, 1908. Serial No. 431,685. i

. To all whom t may concern:

yrangement and combination axle to both .traction Be it known that I, JEAN B. DUMAIS, a

citizen ofthe United States ofl America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county `of.

Cook and State vof lllinois, have invented certain new and' useful ".lraction-VVheel Drives, of which the following is a specification.

Tliis'invention relates to that class of traction drivesfor motor -vehiclesin which a single piece axis has driving connection with the traction wheels in a manner which admits'of one wheel-having a faster rotation a faster rotation of either wheelas the vethe driving axle ofthe hicle rounds a curve inthe roadway, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a. central horizontal sectional elevation .showing the general arrangement and connection of the present inechanismf Fig. 2,

is a detailsection on line ac-..r, Fig-1. Fig.-

3, is a similar view on line -.^c Fig. 1,

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings, l represents usual single piece formationand. upon each end of which a traction wheel 2 usual manner.

3 is a cup shaped housingsecured to the inside of each traction wheel; such housing is formed with -a circular rim portion 4 in concentric relation to the axis of rotation of the driving axle aforesaid, and with an inwardly facing open end closed by a flanged sleeve hereinafter described.

5 is an elongated sleeve individual to a housing 3 aforesaid, and mounted looselyyV uponan end portion of the driving axle 1. Such sleeve is provided 'with a circular flange 6 forminga closure for the inner open end of the aforesaid housing 3, and points of pivotal vattachment for thea-friction clutch members hereinafter described.

7 is a journal box carried by a supporting spring of the vehicle, and forming a bearing in which the elongated shank or Jortion of said lvsleeve 5 isjournaled by ba bear- I'inprovements in i is loosely journaled in any ings 8, or other usual means, to constitute. the supporting means between the traction wheel and the bodyof the vehicle.

9 is a gear wheel keyed or otherwise se cured to an endV portionof the axle and located Within the housing 3 and individual thereto.

10 is an annular clutch member, of a diameter approximating the internal diameter of the housing 3 and adapted for frictional engagement for frictional riml portion thereof. To such end said clutch member is split along its periphery and the gapformed by said split isin't-urn formed with inward enlargements which in turn are formed with outer opposed and approximatelyT parallel surfaces 11 and inner opposed curved surfaces 12, for operativev engagement with the intermediate lever here- `4inafter described'.

' 13 is a pivot boss or hub arranged on the side of the clutch member 10 directly opposite to the aforesaid split or and as illustrated in F ig. 2.

11 is a pivot stud or pin engaging the aforesaid pivot hub 13 to vform a pivotal connection between the clutch member 10'and the flange 6 of the sleeve member 5 beforeY described. 15 is an intermediate lever pivoted to the flange 6 of lthe-above mentioned sleeve member by a pivot stud or'pin 16, and with its pivot portion or hub in'v concentric relation to the cuived surfaces-12 `of the clutch member 10,- and having bearing against the same. One Vend ,of said lever v15 is formed with gear teeth 1T that mesh with and receive motion from the gear wheel 9 of the driving axle, while the other vend 1S is of an approximately rectangular form with its opposed. faces in close relation to the parallel surfaces 11 'off the 'clutch inemberlO aforesaid.

19 is the usual bevel gear secured/'centrally to the axle 1, and meshing with and receivgap in the same driving engage-v "ment with the inner surface of the circular ing mot-ion from a' bevel gear 20 on acoun.- tei-shaft 21, which in turn receives motion fromthe driving motor of the vehicle.

2:2 is the usual inclosino' housing for the gearing mechanism just described.

In the present traction drive mechanism, the traction wheel is normally free to rotate in either direction under externally applied stress and independent of the axle. lVith a positive rotation of said a-Xle in one or the` other direction the gear wheel 9 acting upon the geared inner end of the intermediate lever 15 imparts a rocking movement to the same. And in unison with such movement of the leverits outer endiacts against one or the other of the parallel surfaces 11 of the gap of the annular clutch member 10 to eHect an expansion of' such clutch member 'and an engagement between the same and the circular housing 3 of the traction Wheel,

and so that both tractionwheel and axle Will revolve in unison. In'such expansion movement, the curved surface of the hubof -the intermediate lever forms an abutment for thev correspondingly curved surface 12' lof that side of the gap in the clutch member 10 which is .not operatively engaged by the.

axle and formed with a circular flange, an vannular clutch member carried by said flange and formed with a'periplieial gap, and an intermediate lever pivoted to said flange with its outer end engaging said gap and its inner end in operative engagement With the axle, substantially as set forth.

' 2. In a traction drive for motor vehicles, aA traction Wheel provided with a housing having a circular rim portion in concentricv relation to the axis of rotation of the Wheel, a driving axle upon Which the Wheel is ournaled, a sleeve mountedv loosely upon the axle and formed With a circular flange, an

annular clutch member carried by said fla-nge and ,formed With a y peripheral gap having outer opposed" and approximatel parallel surfaces and inner opposed curve surfaces,

and an intermediate lever carried by the sleeve iiange aforesaid with its outer end arranged between the outer and .approxi-f mately parallel surfaces of the gap in the clutch member, its hub portion [between the lcurved surfaces of sucligap and its inner end in operative engagement with substantially as set 'foi-th. 3. In a traction drive for motor vehicles, a traction wheel provided with a housing tli'e axle,

having a circular rim portion in concentric relation to the axis of. rotation ofthe wheel,

a driving axle upon which the Wheel sjour- 'naled, a sleeve mounted loosely up'ontlie axle and formedwith a. circular flange, anl

annular clutch member carried by fs'aid iiange and formed with a peripheral-gap', a gear' Wheel securedto the axle, and an intermediate lever pivoted to the aforesaid liange With its outer end engaging said gap lauditsl inner.

end in operative engagement with the axle, substantially as set forth 4. I-ii a tractiondrive for motor vehicles,

a traction Wheel provided vwith a housing v having acircular-rim portion in concentric relation to the axisof rotation oftlie wheel,

adriving axle upon which the wheel is joui'- naled, a sleeve mounted loosely uponthe axle and formed with al circular fla-nge, an annular clutch meinbercarried' by said flange and formed with a peripheral, gap having outer opposed and approximately parallel surfaces and'innei opposed curved surfaces,

a gear wheel secured to the axle' .'and an interinediat'e lever carried by thesleeve flange aforesaid with its outer end arranged between tlie outer and approximatelyparallel surfaces of the gap in the clutch member, its

hub portion between the curved surfaces ofv suoliA gap and itsinner 'end formed with teeth engaging the gear wheel on the axle, substantially as set forth. y u

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, th-isQnd day of May 1908.

JEAN B. DUMAIS. Witnesses:- y y ROBERT BURNS, HENRY Mon. 

